New Yorkers celebrate Manhattan's beloved--and only--lighthouse.On Saturday, September 16, hundreds of New Yorkers gathered at the 14th annual celebration of Manhattan's beloved Little Red Lighthouse in Fort Washington Park Fort Washington Park: see National Parks and Monuments (table). . Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer--better known as Dr. Ruth--and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe entertained the audience with a reading of The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge. The children's book inspired fans, who banded together to save the lighthouse from destruction in 1948. At the festival, local officials, including Manhattan Borough President Borough President (informally BP, or Beep in slang) is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City. The offices of borough president were created in 1898 with the formation of the City of Greater New York. Scott Stringer Scott Stringer (born 1960) is a New York Democratic politician and the current Borough President of Manhattan. His mother, Arlene Stringer-Cuevas, is a cousin of Bella Abzug and served on the New York City Council. and Council Member Robert Jackson Robert Jackson may refer to:
"The Little Red Lighthouse has had a special place in the hearts of children around the world for many decades," said Benepe. "It is also literally a beacon illuminating the City's proud maritime history and culture. All across New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. we are building and restoring waterfront parks and interpreting the rich history of our shoreline. We are proud to team up with the Historic House Trust and the New York Restoration Project On July 7, 1995, renowned entertainer Bette Midler founded the nonprofit New York Restoration Project (NYRP), with the goal of revitalizing neglected neighborhood parks in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods of New York City. to celebrate this humble but very, very proud lighthouse and the great park it sits in." The 40-foot lighthouse, officially named Jeffrey's Hook, was erected in 1880 and moved to its current site along the treacherous section of the Hudson River in 1921. When the George Washington Bridge George Washington Bridge, vehicular suspension bridge across the Hudson River, between Manhattan borough of New York City and Fort Lee, N.J.; constructed 1927–31. It is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. opened above the lighthouse in 1931, the lights of the bridge made the lighthouse obsolete. The Coast Guard decommissioned the lighthouse in 1948 with a plan to auction it off. But the popular children's book, written by Hildegarde Swift and with illustrations by Lynd Ward, prompted a public outcry that saved the lighthouse. On July 23, 1951, the Coast Guard gave the property to Parks, and on May 29, 1979, the Little Red Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places This article is about the U.S. Register. For the National Register of Historic Places in Canada see Canadian Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places . In 1986, Parks hosted a party in honor of the lighthouse's 65th anniversary and to celebrate $209,000 in renovations that included reconstruction of the concrete foundation and the installation of new steel doors. In 2000, the lighthouse received a fresh coat of red paint that is true to its original, historic color, along with new interior lighting and electric lines. Today, it is Manhattan's only lighthouse and has become widely known as the children's literary landmark "The Little Red Lighthouse." The Little Red Lighthouse is a member of Historic House Trust, a not-for-profit organization operating in tandem with the parks department. |
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